Fabric tensioning device having a collapsible support, elastic means, and fabric hooks

Abstract

This invention relates in general to sheet material suspension devices, and in particular to an apparatus for the suspension and tension of fabric for the purpose of hand dyeing and painting. The apparatus comprises specially designed hooks for attaching the fabric to an elastic band which in turn is attached to a lightweight, collapsible support frame. The method involves unfolding the frame so the bars are substantially equidistant at their ends, placing the elastic in notches at the ends of the bars, pulling loops of the elastic through the notches, placing the hooks on the inside of the loops, and placing the hooks into the hem of the fabric.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lightweight collapsible apparatus for suspending fabric under tension above a work surface, wherein; said fabric is removably attached at the marginal edges of said fabric to   a fabric attachment means removably attached to   an elastic means removably attached to   a pivotable foldable support means.   
     
     
       2. The collapsible apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein; said fabric attachment means comprises a plurality of hooks removably attached to   said elastic means comprising a continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said pivotable foldable support means comprising a support structure shaped and dimensioned so as to suspend said fabric above a work surface.   
     
     
       3. The collapsible apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein; said fabric attachment means comprises a plurality of hooked pins removably attached to   said elastic means comprising a plurality of separate elastic loops removably attached to   said pivotable foldable support means comprising a support structure shaped and dimensioned so as to suspend said fabric above a work surface.   
     
     
       4. The collapsible apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein; said fabric attachment means comprises a plurality of hooked pins removably attached to   said elastic means comprising a continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said pivotable foldable support means comprising a plurality of elongated support bars removably attached approximately centrally, shaped and dimensioned so as to suspend said fabric above a work surface.   
     
     
       5. The collapsible apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein; said fabric attachment means comprises a plurality of hooked pins removably attached to   said elastic means comprising a continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said pivotable foldable support means comprising a plurality of elongated support bars removably attached approximately centrally, shaped and dimensioned so as to suspend said fabric above a work surface,   said elongated support bars having ends, and having voids in said ends of said elongated support bars shaped and dimensioned so as to receive said elastic loop, said elongated support bars pivotably arranged on said approximately central attachment so that said ends of said support bars are substantially equidistant from the ends of adjacent said elongated support bars.   
     
     
       6. The collapsible apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said attachment means comprise thin spring wire hooked T pins, with one end bent downward, upward and downward again to form a T shape, and one end bent downward into a hook shape with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape.   
     
     
       7. The collapsible apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said attachment means comprise thin spring wire clasp pins bent into a coil spring with two extending members, a member bent downwards at approximately forty-five degrees approximately intermedially, and bent upwards to form a hook, with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, and a member bent upwards approximately intermedially, approximately forty-five degrees and bent downwards to form a hook, with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, said bends formed so that said hooks form a clasp, said clasp being held springably in a closed position by said coil spring.   
     
     
       8. The collapsible apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said attachment means comprise thin spring wire safety hook pins bent into a spring coil with two extending members, one member having its end bent into a hook with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, and one member bent proximate to said coil.   
     
     
       9. The collapsible apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said attachment means comprise thin spring wire hook pins, having opposed hooked ends bent into a spring coil with two extending members, one member having bent into a hook with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, and one member bent into a hook with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape.   
     
     
       10. A lightweight collapsible apparatus for suspending fabric under tension above a work surface wherein; said fabric is removably attached at the marginal edges of said fabric to   a fabric attachment means removably attached to   an elastic means removably attached to   a support means.   
     
     
       11. The collapsible apparatus of claim 10 wherein; said fabric attachment means is removably attached to   a plurality of individual elastic loops removably attached to   said support means.   
     
     
       12. The collapsible apparatus of claim 10 wherein; said fabric attachment means comprises a plurality of thin spring wire hooked pins removably attached to   a continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said support means.   
     
     
       13. The collapsible apparatus of claim 12 wherein; said fabric attachment means comprise thin spring wire hooked T pins with one end bent downward, upward and downward again to form a T shape, and one end bent downward into a hook shape with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, removably attached to   said continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said support means.   
     
     
       14. The collapsible apparatus of claim 12 wherein; said fabric attachment means comprise thin spring wire clasp pins bent into a coil spring with two extending members, a member bent downwards at approximately forty five degrees approximately intermedially, and bent upwards to form a hook, with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, and a member bent upwards approximately intermedially, approximately forty five degrees, and bent downwards to form a hook, with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, said bends formed so that said hooks form a clasp, said clasp being held springably in a closed position by said coil spring, removably attached to   said continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said support means.   
     
     
       15. The collapsible apparatus of claim 12 wherein; said fabric attachment means comprise thin spring wire safety hook pins bent into a spring coil with two extending members, one member having its end bent into a hook with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, and one member bent proximate to said coil, removably attached to   said continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said support means.   
     
     
       16. The collapsible apparatus of claim 12 wherein; said fabric attachment means comprise thin spring wire hook pins, having opposed hooked ends bent into a spring coil with two extending members, one member bent into a hook with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape, and one member bent into a hook with the end of said hook being of an acicular shape removably attached to   said continuous closed elastic loop removably attached to   said support means.   
     
     
       17. The collapsible apparatus of claim 12 wherein; said continuous closed elastic loop comprises a loop of sufficient strength to support said fabric, and of an appropriate length to tensionally circumscribe said support means, removably attached to   said support means comprising a first pair of bars and a second pair of bars, substantially rectangular in shape, having an upper surface and a lower surface,   said first pair of bars having a pair of notches cut in said upper surface, removably attached to   said second pair of bars having a pair of notches cut in said lower surface of said bars, said pair of notches being shaped and dimensioned so as to be received in frictional fit with said pair of notches on said first pair of bars.   
     
     
       18. The collapsible apparatus of claim 12 wherein; said fabric attachment means of a plurality of thin steel wire hooked pins removably attached to   said continuous closed elastic loop of sufficient strength to support said fabric, and of an appropriate length to tensionally circumscribe said support means, removably attached to   said support means comprising a first pair of bars and a second pair of bars, said bars being substantially rectangular in shape, having an upper surface and a lower surface,   said first pair of bars with a pair of notches cut in said upper surface and   having pairs of slots cut in said upper surface, said slots being shaped and dimensioned so as to receive said continuous closed elastic loop, removably attached to   said second pair of bars having a pair of notches cut in said lower surface of said bars, said notches being shaped and dimensioned so as to be received in frictional fit with said notches on said first pair of bars,   with pairs of slots cut in said upper surface of said bars, said slots being shaped and dimensioned so as to receive said continuous closed elastic loop.   
     
     
       19. The collapsible apparatus of claim 10 wherein; said fabric attachment means comprise a plurality of thin spring wire hooked pins removably attached to   said elastic means comprising a plurality of separate closed elastic loops of sufficient strength to support said fabric, removably attached to   said support means comprising a first pair of bars and a second pair of bars, said bars being substantially rectangular in shape, said bars having an upper surface and a lower surface,   said first pair of bars having a pair of notches cut in said upper surface and   having pairs of slots cut in said upper surface of said bars, said slots being shaped and dimensioned so as to receive said separate closed elastic loops, removably attached to   said second pair of bars, having a pair of notches cut in said lower surface of said bars, said notches being shaped and dimensioned so as to be received in frictional fit with said notches on said first pair of bars,   said second pair of bars having pairs of slots cut in said upper surface of said bars, said pairs of slots being shaped and dimensioned so as to receive said separate closed elastic loops.   
     
     
       20. A lightweight collapsible apparatus for suspending fabric under tension above a work surface wherein; said fabric has marginal edges and said fabric is removably attached at said marginal edges to   an elastic and attachment means comprising a plurality of thin spring wire hooks, said spring wire hooks comprising a coil spring with two extending members, the first extending member having a hooked end removably attached to said marginal edges of said fabric, and the second extending member having a hooked end removably attached to   a support means.